The J Street Jumpers - Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? (1998)

Yet another band hopping on the swing revival bandwagon? Hardly. The J Street Jumpers were retro before it was cool, so whatever benefits accrue from renewed interest in swing and jump tunes are well earned.

The ensemble -- seven men and one woman strong -- takes such delight in revisiting the pre-rock past that it's easy to overlook some of its shortcomings, notably a few vocals that lack the requisite power and soulfulness. Singer Marianna Previti's alto is best served by songs that suggest a girlish innocence and spirit, as evidenced by her engaging interpretations of "Better Beware," "Sure Had a Wonderful Time Last Night" and "Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean." Even "Jump, Jive and Wail," the Louis Prima romp, is likely to delight the bandleader's fans, since it recalls his exuberant charm. But when Previti turns to tunes associated with Percy Mayfield ("Please Send Me Someone to Love") and Etta James ("At Last"), she seems a trifle miscast -- a swing era stylist trying to find her way in an R&B world.